INTERNATIONAL BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE @ 2014 AND 2015: KLM AND DELTA

This time, I am sharing my baggage allowance for my KLM Flight to Schipol, Amsterdam. 

I am aware Airline companies are now quite strict with their baggage allowance so I do try to adhere to this rather than get stressed over the possible additional baggage payment!

Somehow, I personally have a problem with my hand-carried items because I always bring my 15.4" MacPro laptop (2010), which isn't exactly light, and I have no plans of replacing this yet! Good thing, I no longer bring my DSLR!


So for my Intercontinental KLM trip to Amsterdam, here is the baggage allowance:
KLM Travel Baggage

 

So yes, my check-in baggage was just right at 23 kilos. It really is important because we put our bags in a machine, thus, we can't request for free additional grams!

From Schipol, baggage drop is automated so make sure the baggage weight is right!

However, for my hand baggage, it weighed 15 kilos for my handbag and my laptop backpack!
The lady said, if I had no laptop, the baggage allowance is 12 kilos.
If I had a laptop, the total hand baggage allowance is increased to 15 kilos.
So that solves my concern!

On the way back from Amsterdam, I had more hand carried items, so I brought a larger bag, the large Longchamps, where I put all my items and where I can stash my smaller handbag if they would count it as separate. They did not weigh my hand-carried bags in Schipol, although, I think they weighed the trolley bags of other people, which looked so full.

Up to this time, I really haven't decided to get a smaller trolley bag as the second one to my backpack because I felt it was less flexible to additional items which we can buy at the duty-free shop, although, this is a more comfortable way to travel!

This 2015, here are some scenes in Schipol, Amsterdam!
From the parking lot, there are themes like SKATER and COW! COW is interesting because the background sound is the Moooo and of course, the murals of the cow.

Installation Art within Schipol Airport in Amsterdam: 

Time to say good-bye!

Renovation at Schipol Airport, May 2015:

In 2014, I availed of the Delta flight from Manila to New York! 

I seem to have forgotten the baggage allowance since I thought it was only one bag so I am referring to the official baggage allowance from the Delta website.
Delta Travel Baggage

As I remember coming home, I again had three hand-carried items: a handbag, the Longchamps large tote and my backpack. My cousin advised me to put my handbag in an echo bag and put some food on top so it will be considered as a food bag and now as a separate bag. Well, they really did not bother about my "food bag".

I believe the additional bag is about $100 or a 100 euro. Since baggage allowance and possible additional fees are quite stressful, most of the time, I do limit bringing home "pasalubong" (a very interesting Filipino trait) or souvenirs for everyone!

Hope this helps you!!!

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Here is the link to my older post dated August 3, 2012:
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

The first time that I felt that Baggage Allowance was important was when I was in Dubai in 2007 and during the check-in at Cathay Pacific for a Dubai-Manila flight, my cousin was unloading some of her things just so the baggage wouldn't go over 30 kilos.

The allowed check-in baggage is 20 kilos per person and since they were three of them, they were allowed 60 kilos. However, none of the baggages should go over 30 kilos per person.

Excess baggage fee for this route is USD 8/kilo. 

Another guy came with a large "balikbayan" kind of box and so he had to pay an extra USD200.00 for the excess.

I was surprised at how strict Cathay Pacific (manned by Filipinos) was, but then considering Filipinos, who love huge baggages, maybe they were right in doing so.

I was comparing this when we checked in through Emirates also for the Dubai-Manila flight, wherein the Dubai local who was at check-in didn't really mind the baggage limits. Well, I can't say how strict Emirates is with baggage these days.

Philippine Airlines is also very strict with the baggage allowance. Beware of the present base allowance which is only 15 kgs. An additional 10 kgs. is given if you are an Elite Mabuhay Miles member.

For local flights, the excess baggage is P150.00 + 12%VAT.

For international flights in Asia, the excess baggage is USD 10.00 per kilo!

Philippine Airlines was very strict with the cabin baggage in the San Francisco-Manila flight since they only wanted two pieces. Me with my big bag, laptop bag and camera bag really had a dilemma!

To make the most of the baggage from the US, many use the balikbayan boxes. 

Just make sure, that this comes home intact. One friend lost 18 pounds in her box and my other friend lost all the branded shirts, bags and perfumes she got from the Labor Day sale in the US! She pointed out that they didn't mind the shirts that came from discount stores. In fact, she found small shorts which she didn't buy - - therefore, were there other boxes opened? 

Don't know who to blame for the loss in two of my friends' balikbayan boxes, because it was taped back as if not opened - - must be experts, huh!

I do hope the system changes or else Dishonesty would stick in the minds of the nationals and the tourists everytime they step on Philippine soil!

For other US carriers, the internet is so important for the baggage limits - - some have the 20 kilo limit, others a 25 kilo limit and others give you a 2-bag limit whatever the weight!

Lots of shuffling happens when you have lots of domestic flights.

The time, I felt that the flight carriers were so considerate was when I was on the Singapore Airline flight from Manila-Singapore and also on the transit on the Silk Air flight from Penang-Singapore. I know, I went over the baggage limit of 20 kilos (for economy) but I think that they gave another 20 kilos just because I signed in online at the Krisflyer Frequent Flyer program at the Singapore Airlines website.

The same way with Thai Airways. Just because I signed in at the Royal Orchid Frequent Flyer Program website a few days before leaving, I was able to be checked in online (1) and this is very helpful for a breezy check-in. The baggage allowance for economy is 20 kgs. plus an additional 10 kgs. for the Royal Orchid rewards. Excess baggage is USD119 for an additional 10 kgs.

What was most interesting for me was my Alitalia trip from Rome to Paris! Their baggage allowance is 2 bags = 23 kgs. each! I also checked in their Mille Miglia rewards but I dont know if that mattered.

So for the next leg from Paris to Bangkok through Thai Airways, which was not of the same alliance, the allowance was 30 kgs. I couldn't shuffle my bags anymore. I had to carry an additional 15 kgs. by hand-carry!

Check online for the individual baggage policy per airline.
Even Cebu Pacific (depends on what you chose and Air Philippines (watch out it is only 10 kilos) have very high excess baggage fees!

Well, inasmuch as everyone says "Travel Light!", I think only the guys can do this!

Well, just be prepared if you travel heavy... the fees are also heavy!!!

KLM AT NAIA TERMINAL 3 @ APRIL MAY 2015

Last July 31, 2014, I wrote this blog about International Airlines moving to NAIA Terminal 3.  Since it had almost been a year since the implementation of the move, I sort of thought that many people would already know about this.

This April 2015, I finally took the KLM flight to Brussels, Belgium and I did come through NAIA Terminal 3!

And since I knew that I would take NAIA Terminal 3, I made sure that when I came back, I booked the Cebu Pacific Flight to Cebu. The PAL flight to Cebu is through NAIA Terminal 2 so I didn't want to take the risk of having to ride to the other terminal! 

One of the passengers who is a seaman was surprised when he heard that the plane was landing at NAIA Terminal 3! It was a year since he had been home so he wasn't updated with this change. he had to contact his family to move from NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3!

Here are some scenes at NAIA Terminal 3:

I know going through this terminal is definitely more relaxing than via Terminal 1!  It is newer, more spacious and the flow also is more streamlined.

The KLM line wasn't too bad, but the line would still have been shorter if I checked-in online. 

Those on the Singapore Airline queue, however, must check in online since I saw a very, very long line... similar to the Thai Airways queue at NAIA Terminal 1. (I guess many prefer the Asian airlines!)

And the Immigration Area, definitely, also seemed to have a shorter queue!

After passing the Immigration area, there are some shops and restaurants within Terminal 3.

I decided to take a bite... there were some choices there. Here was mine!

The waiting area was a bit away  from the food area and the restroom, so soon after, I decided to take my seat at the waiting area.

The waiting area is similar to any other waiting area.

I guess I really felt more comfortable in NAIA Terminal 3. But, it would be nice to see NAIA Terminal 1 when the renovation is done!

ON THE WAY BACK:

I felt it was more relaxed and streamlined as we went through Immigration, which I presume was related to the lower number of passenger influx when we arrived at 7 p.m.

Then, I had to find my way to Departure for my domestic trip to Cebu. So from Level 1, we have to go up to Level 3 (I hope I remember this right!). Then just follow the usual process for the flight. 

So, for everyone who has an international flight, make sure you know your terminals!!!

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This is the link and the content of the previous post dated July 31, 2014:

Delta moves to NAIA 3 August 1, 2014

I saw this tarpaulin at NAIA Terminal 3 on our way back home from Manila last week.

Then, in tonight's news, I also heard that the following airlines will follow suit:

KLM by August 4, 2014

Emirates by August 15, 2014

Singapore by September 1, 2014

Cathay Pacific by September 2nd week

Here is a link related to this news:

Delta Airlines moves to NAIA Terminal 3

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 07/31/2014 12:02 PM | Updated as of 07/31/2014 12:59 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Two Delta Airlines flights are scheduled to arrive tonight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Delta Airlines is the first of five foreign airlines transferring their operations to NAIA 3, starting August.

"Passengers of Delta Airlines flights DL 629 and DL473 with an estimated arrival time of 21:05 and 21:45, respectively, will be deplaning from Terminal 3. We are excited to welcome these passengers as they take their first step on this new Terminal," Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to move to NAIA 3 on August 4, followed by Emirates Airlines on August 15.

On September 1, Singapore Airlines will also begin operating flights in and out of NAIA 3.

Cathay Pacific is also expected to transfer to NAIA 3 by second week of September.

"We thank these airlines for heeding our call to use Terminal 3 for their operations. Their cooperation plays a vital role for us to achieve our desire to decongest Terminal 1 by some 3 million passengers annually," Honrado said.

Honrado reminded relatives, friends and well-wishers of passengers arriving and departing on these airlines to take note of the transfer dates to avoid confusion.

Flight information offices of Terminals 1 and 3 may be reached at 877.1109 local 2852 or 765 and 877.7888 local 8144, respectively.

They also mentioned for those taking the shuttle bus between airports (NAIA 3 to NAIA 2) to consider at least thirty minutes time between buses and also leeway for travel time between these two places.

FYI! I hope this advisory will help you!